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The New Prometheus: Google CEO Says AI is More Profound than Electricity or Fire

posted by Fnord666 on Saturday February 03 2018, @09:48AM   Printer-friendly
from the modern-day-punishment dept.

takyon writes:

Fire good. AI better:

Google CEO Sundar Pichai says artificial intelligence is going to have a bigger impact on the world than some of the most ubiquitous innovations in history. "AI is one of the most important things humanity is working on. It is more profound than, I dunno, electricity or fire," says Pichai, speaking at a town hall event in San Francisco in January.

A number of very notable tech leaders have made bold statements about the potential of artificial intelligence. Tesla boss Elon Musks says AI is more dangerous than North Korea. Famous physicist Stephen Hawking says AI could be the "worst event in the history of our civilization." And Y Combinator President Sam Altman likens AI to nuclear fission.

Even in such company, Pichai's comment seems remarkable. Interviewer and Recode executive editor Kara Swisher stopped Pichai when he made the comment. "Fire? Fire is pretty good," she retorts. Pichai sticks by his assertion. "Well, it kills people, too," Pichai says of fire. "We have learned to harness fire for the benefits of humanity but we had to overcome its downsides too. So my point is, AI is really important, but we have to be concerned about it."

Also at CNN and Gizmodo.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Saturday February 03 2018, @01:22PM (2 children)

    by Gaaark (41) on Saturday February 03 2018, @01:22PM (#632513) Journal

    Shit, give me a good computer and the internet and I'm fine!

    Ooooo, yeah. Sex.

    Never mind....

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    --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 03 2018, @03:18PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 03 2018, @03:18PM (#632546)

    no, the computer can come with interfaces for that sort of network penetration as well.

    • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday February 03 2018, @06:40PM

      by Gaaark (41) on Saturday February 03 2018, @06:40PM (#632627) Journal

      Tell me more about this 'penetration', big momma........

      --
      --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---